Another reason I became fearful

On my honeymoon, we flew over to the Island of Madeira. (What an AMAZING place! I called it "God's flower garden" - so beautiful).

Trying to land there was one of the most shocking experiences in my life.
At that point, I really was not a fearful flier.
But suddenly we seemed to have hit mega- turbulence, turbulence I have never experienced before in the hundreds of flights I was on.
In fact, it was not only turbulence, we flew all over the place, up and down and to the sides like a leaf in a storm….

After researching what the hell happened…..I learned that trying to land in Madeira is like” trying to put a thread through a needle hole”….Seems Funchal airport is considered to be one of the most dangerous airports in the world to land in due to strong cross winds. I also learned a 747 crashed there a few years back….

I think that was it for me. Actually, I am SURE that was THE traumatic event for me and the only one I remember. It happened ONCE, 16 years ago....

Ta ta,

Karen

Why did I become fearful of flying?

People ask me how I became a fearful flier, when before I hopped around the world happily with no worries what-so-ever....
Why there was a certain person who told me he thought my story didnt sound like the truth, rather something I made up to draw attention...
A pilot that heard my story found it very amusing that I'm all panicky before and sometimes during a flight...
In fact someone wanted to write an article about me once...

So what DID happen?

My explanation is - Control issues.

It is clear to me that the moment I will be given a task or I would have to work again during a flight - I will not even remotely resemble the miserable wreck that I am as a passenger.

Why?

Even though as a flight attendant I had zero control of the aircraft, I did feel I had a type of "control" over the passengers. Their well being was my concern and I was attuned to every wish. It was never about me, it was about the passengers, about rendering good service, about making the flight as comfortable as possible.

Today, as a passenger, it is ALL about me. I sit there, for HOURS on end, squished between other passengers in the same row, no leg space, the chair in front of me is almost in my face and I just sit there, waiting. So when that happens, anxious inclined people like me, tend to start thinking strange and pessimistic thoughts...
The distance from there to thinking what can happen when you are suspended high up in the air is very short, believe me...

No doubt, when I travel with my daughter, I feel that I HAVE to be less stressed so that I don't stress her out. Since her well being is the most important thing to me on the flight, I spend less time on me, thus less visible fearful signs.

Bottom line, give me something important to do on the flight, not just read or watch a movie and I believe I will feel much much better.

Have a good one!

Karen